The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-07-07
The Last Indian Battle in Kentucky.

west of Pennsylvania, and was
there murdered by some companion
wretch. He was adopted by the Sen
ecas, and except for brief period
when in the employ Of Lord Dun
more on the frontier he lived with
them and the Shawnees. At one
time he and Kenton were brother
scouts, and the remembrance of it
induced him in 3 caprice of mercy
to save his old comrade from the
stake to which he was already
bound. But the weakness was never
repeated. He advised and witnessed
the burning of Colonel Crawford
and laughed heartily at the wretch
ed sufferers prayer that his tor
mont might be ended by a bullet.
He was a slave to drink, and when
under its influence it is said The
had no compassion in his heart"
Girty profoundly and sincerely
hated the white man, aud lost no
chance of displaying his animosity.
Assembling more than six hundred
picked warriors Of the Shawnees
and neighboring tribes at the old
Indian town of Chillicothe, he
moved rapidly and secretly, cross
ing the Ohio where Cincinnati now
is built, and pushing toward the
settlements in the Blue grass.
Silently, on an August night,
Girty, with six hundred Indians,
surrounded the station. Within it
there was activity and preparation,
for the men were to start at early
dawn to relieve Captain John Hold
er's little fort, across the Kentucky,
which was reported as threatened
but no one dreamed that Girty was
near. At dawn the rifemen set out
from the eastern gate, but fortu
nately volley checked them before
it was too late to regain the stock
ade. Elijah Craig was their com
mander and from his experience Of
Indian tactics he guessed the force
and plan of the enemy, and foresaw
the seige that he was to repel. For
tunately, there were provisions ant
ammunition, but by some improW
dence the enclosure of the station
did not take in the spring of watel
upon which the garrison must rely
| Calling all the women together, h'
explained that the Indians were
| concealed, as he believed, in fore,
| about the spring. Bet he though
shat the ambuscade would not bt
developed until an attack By .
smaller party on the other side o
.he stockade, intended to divert tn
| pioneers attention, should first b.
made; and he asked the women t.
volunteer to fetch from the spring
before the grand attack commenced
the supply Of water that was indis
pensable.
1t was naturally objected by th
women that the men opght to 90 bu
Craig reasoned that the womel
usually went to the spring wit
their buckets, and rarely the men
that the one would be re garded b
the Indians as a proof that thei
ambuscade and plan of attack wa
not suspected, while the otbe
would bring on the attack in opel
ground. The crisis was urgent, th
peril great; but the women sneedi
| " reached their conclusion. Thirt,
or forty women and girls went on
through the western gate, each car
rying her pail or bucket, and en
.leavoring by laughter or song t.
disguise the fear that penetrated CIV
Try bosom. Across the open spac
and past the side of the canebrak
they passed on to the bubblin;
spring that burst out from the foo
Of the knoll. Their faces betraye'
40 fear, their manner showed no az
tation, their walk was not quick
ened though they felt sure that TIL
rifles of five hundred savages Dor
upon them, and that not one woulo
survive a signal of attack.
The buckets were dipped one al
ter another in the spring, aut
loaded with their precious burdel
the brave women returned towart
the fort. It was not until the thicl
cane was again passed, and til
bushes and tall weeds left behind
that their composure was disturbed
Then safe from the tomahaWk AM
the knife of the savages, and wei
within the protecting range of tn
rifles of their husbands aud fathers
they fastened with tremblin!
limbs toward the open gate, spilIinj
in theiv. safety part of the treas
IRE they had carried So steadil'
through danger, and bursting int
lears of agitation and pride ant
gratitude. Not gun was fired a
them, nor did an Indian move
though the little company passe'
) within twenty yards of five hundred
Craig had exactly guessed his enc
my's plan and forecast his actor
1t was the boldest of bold risks
! but it was confidently propose
and perfectly carried through. Me
often wondered afterwards VIVA
would have become of Craig ha,
the Indians fired upon the women
II rushed out and captured them
but Craig's good-natured reply wa
that his good sense and the women
| courage made the exploit SAT
venture.
AS the fight opened, and the lii
tie garrison of forty men held on
stoutly against such odds, tw
= brave fellows, Bell and Tomlinsor
= mounted their horses to carry tn
t news to other stations and bring u
help. The gate was suddenl
e swung open, and they dashed 8
topmost speed into the very face {
the Indian ranks, and were throug
/ and beyond, and into the cover {
e the waving corn that hid ther
n from the aim Of their astonishe
S foe. Soon Todd and the men fror
e Lexington came hurrying up, an
j the news went on to Boone, an
5 from him to Trigg at Harrodsburs
t aud still further on to Logan
II Never had there been such a gene
e al uprising. The word flew fas
h from settler ent TO settlement tn;
every fighting man was needet
. The response was instant and unar